Our team and mission

The GNC, AOCS and Pointing Division is responsible for Engineering and Research and Development in the following domains:

• Satellite Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (AOCS) in all application domains and for all mission types and classes;
• Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems for space vehicles including interplanetary cruise, aero assistance, landing, ascent, descent, rendezvous and docking, re-entry, formation flying, close proximity operations and drag-free systems;
• Integration and digitalisation of AOCS and GNC;
• AOCS and GNC sensors and actuators;
• Autonomous Navigation systems including data fusion, vision-based navigation and hybrid navigation concepts, guidance & optimisation techniques, including artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques;
• Pointing engineering, including stabilisation techniques and control strategies;
• Failure Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) for AOCS and GNC systems;
• State of the art Modelling and simulation techniques and tools, Validation and Verification and Contribution to operations and flight anomaly investigation for AOCS and GNC;
• Contributing to demonstration of AOCS and GNC systems and technologies;
• Management of the AOCS, Pointing, GNC and Sensors laboratory;
• Development of ECSS and ESA control and pointing engineering standards.

The Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Systems Architecture Section provides functional support to ESA projects in the technical field of GNC systems for planetary exploration orbiters and landers, launch and transportation systems, re-entry vehicles, and new generation space vehicles for in-orbit servicing, in-orbit assembly, debris removal and specialised applications such as rendezvous and formation flying.

 
The GNC Systems Architecture Section carries out technological research in the domain of GNC systems for space vehicles including interplanetary cruise, aero assistance, precision landing, ascent, rendezvous and docking, re-entry, formation flying and drag-free systems. Special emphasis is placed on the following areas: autonomous and fault-tolerant systems (including health monitoring systems), advanced guidance, control, estimation and optimisation techniques and tools, and the technology development of GNC sensors with a focus on vision-based navigation and hybrid navigation concepts.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int  and websites of the main conferences (co-)organised by the GNC, AOCS & Pointing Division: ESA GNC Conference, ICATT and ADCSS. 

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Computationally Efficient Uncertainty Propagation for Spacecraft GNC System Design and Robust Optimal Control

As an intern in the GNC Systems Architecture Section, you will develop methods for efficient covariance/uncertainty propagation that are suitable for embedded use on space processors.

The goal is to develop methods that can be used to perform real-time covariance analysis to study the impact of navigation errors or uncertainty in closed-loop dynamics. These closed loops include state or output feedback controls, Kalman filters and reference guidance trajectory.

Among the methods to be investigated are Linear Covariance Propagation, Unscented Transform, and Advanced Sampling Based Methods.

Propagated uncertainty models would be used to assess driving uncertainties for a set of reference trajectories or update in real-time a trajectory to meet safety limits with respect to constraints. Such trajectories include those needed for Mars re-entry & pinpoint landing, but general applicability is possible.

The internship will include code benchmarking in terms of runtime performance and numerical equivalence on a LEON4 processor.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Knowledge and background in robust control and uncertainty propagation is an asset.